Teicher:Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive

Prodded by Andy Reid, Chiefs QB Alex Smith learning to be more aggressive
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
One of the qualities the Chiefs like in new quarterback Alex Smith is his recent history with few turnovers. Smith threw just 10 interceptions in his last 25 games for the San Francisco 49ers, a stat that looks extremely pretty in Kansas City after Chiefs quarterbacks committed 27 turnovers last season.

Smith’s low turnover rate was due at least in part by his reluctance to throw the ball down the field. He was referred to by frustrated 49ers fans as Captain Checkdown for his habit of throwing shorter patterns to receivers for shorter gains.

Smith is in the process of being reprogrammed by Andy Reid, his new coach. Reid doesn’t want to turn Smith into a turnover machine but wants him to be more aggressive, particularly during offseason practice.

“You want to get a feel for the offense now, particularly when you’re new at it (and) if there are close throws, challenge it, see what you can get away with,” Reid said. “If it ends up being an interception, OK, it’s an interception. You learn from it. These are smart guys so they learn from it and once they get into the season, they’re not experimenting with it on game day and they know what they can get away with and know what they can’t.

“It’s a new offense. I would tell any quarterback that comes in new that that’s what you need to do. I’ve told them all that. Go ahead and take your shots and see what you can get away with, within reason. But if it’s a close throw, there are going to be a few of those in the National Football League on game day so you need to know what you can get away with on each route.”

Smith and the other Chiefs quarterbacks were rewarded with several long completions in Wednesday’s practice. Smith had three such plays, including two to Jon Baldwin, while Tyler Bray and Ricky Stanzi had one apiece.

Wednesday’s barrage of big passing plays isn’t necessarily an indication the deep ball is back in the Chiefs’ offense. But since such plays have been scarce for the Chiefs in each of the past two seasons, they’re taking it as an encouraging sign.

“We’re just kind of continuing to press to see what we can do … finding out what we’re capable of,” Smith said. “You’ve got to find that out at some point. This is what the practice field is for.”

Smith was the NFL’s highest-rated passer last season before he was injured, missed a start and then replaced by Colin Kaepernick as San Francisco’s starting quarterback. Smith was completing more than 70 percent of his passes, a high rate, and had just five interceptions.

Still, he had just 30 touchdown passes in his final 25 starts for the 49ers. While that’s a good number as a ratio with his 10 interceptions, it still represents a shortage of big plays.

Smith won’t turn into a mad bomber overnight, if he ever does.

“You want to stay aggressive,” Smith said. “But in the end I’m always trying to make the right read and throw where the defense is telling me to throw. You don’t come out here and predetermine anything, like ‘Oh, I’m going to chuck it deep on this play.’ I’m constantly trying to just trust my eyes and what I’m seeing out there, trust my reads and what I’ve prepared for and then come out here and throw good balls.”

For his part, Reid might be OK with that. But for now, when an interception costs the Chiefs nothing, he would prefer Smith be more of a gambler.

“Everybody is all on board (with Smith),” Reid said. “He’s a good football player. He’s showing that (along with) good leadership. I’m asking him to do a ton of things. He’s handling it. We’ve had an interception here or there but that’s all part of this thing. You’ve got to find out about the offense and you can’t do it with your hands in your pocket. You’ve got to go out and try things and experiment. That’s what he’s doing now.

“It’s just good stuff. He’s staying aggressive with the ball, and I appreciate that.”

The final offseason practice is today. The Chiefs won’t get together again as a group until training camp begins in July at Missouri Western State University.

Smith indicated he may try to throw to some Chiefs receivers during their downtime in an effort to stay sharp.

“We’re heads and shoulder above where we were a couple of months ago,” he said. “But that’s a never-ending thing. I don’t think it’s something like, ‘We’ve got a good feel for each other so we don’t need to work anymore.’ You’re constantly working at it. This is our job, this is our craft. Every single day, it’s coming out here and pushing to get better.”

Mainly, I'm not understanding this belief that Alex is mediocre. Elite? No. I think it's fair to believe he isn't elite. But mediocre or less? No. That conclusion is simply not supported by his last 38 games.

Why am I looking at his last 38 games and not lumping in his full career? Convenience? No. It's focusing on trends. What a player was or what he did in the distant past isn't important. What's important is where a player is now and what he has done lately. I'm not cherry picking games here and there. I'm regarding the last 2.5 years of performance. That's a pretty fair sized sample to make judgement on.

People want to point out that Alex had strong coaching and teams lately... and that is true. Most successful QBs developed also have or have had these benefits.. so why can't Alex?

What KC got is a very solid QB. Sounds like some KC fans are just bitching because they didn't get an elite QB right off the bat. What chance did they really have of doing that in this offseason anyway? So what you got is a very solid QB that just might surprise you and make you playoff contenders. Sure, he can't do it alone. KC will have to have a strong team and competent coaching around him to do that this season... just as most of the QBs would need.

I think at times he can play above mediocre but reality is he is another retread QB that has struggled much of his career and only last couple of years made himself look good mostly by handing the ball off to Frank Gore and play action pass. They dominated with a running game, take that away and how good was Alex Smith?

__________________
Adopt a Chief: I adopt Eric Murray
Get after it son

I think at times he can play above mediocre but reality is he is another retread QB that has struggled much of his career and only last couple of years made himself look good mostly by handing the ball off to Frank Gore and play action pass. They dominated with a running game, take that away and how good was Alex Smith?

As long as Alex can make the neccesary plays to win the game I dont give a rats ass how it happens.

Milk has often stated stats are overrated, and I agree because all games are not played in a vacuum. There are so many variables that go into the end stats including performance or non performance of teammates.

One thing I think is Alex Smith has the ability to win some games, he is not going to carry the team except for maybe a game or 2 here and there in a season, but there are very few QB's who can, maybe 3 or 4 just carry an offense for a season. I would love to have one of those guys but its not been an option this off-season.

One of the biggest misnomers on CP is the belief there are around 15 franchise type QB's who can carry their team and its simply not true.

There are 4-5 elite and then the separation between #6 and around #15 is not that great.

I think at times he can play above mediocre but reality is he is another retread QB that has struggled much of his career and only last couple of years made himself look good mostly by handing the ball off to Frank Gore and play action pass. They dominated with a running game, take that away and how good was Alex Smith?

There's a lot of truth in the positive Alex Smith posts.

He is really good at presnap reads and adjustments, and he protects the football as well as anyone.
He has the physical tools to play at a Trent Green level, and that is good enough to compere for a SB.

His problem is mental.

He has the physical ability to attack the sidelines and stretch the defense over the top, but he's afraid of making a mistake.

As long as Alex can make the neccesary plays to win the game I dont give a rats ass how it happens.

Milk has often stated stats are overrated, and I agree because all games are not played in a vacuum. There are so many variables that go into the end stats including performance or non performance of teammates.

One thing I think is Alex Smith has the ability to win some games, he is not going to carry the team except for maybe a game or 2 here and there in a season, but there are very few QB's who can, maybe 3 or 4 just carry an offense for a season. I would love to have one of those guys but its not been an option this off-season.

One of the biggest misnomers on CP is the belief there are around 15 franchise type QB's who can carry their team and its simply not true.

There are 4-5 elite and then the separation between #6 and around #15 is not that great.

From there out it takes a well balanced and equipped team.

The difference between a SB QB and a non SB QB is the confidence to take advantage of opportunities.

Joe Flacco is not elite, but that confidence is what separates him from Smith.

He is really good at presnap reads and adjustments, and he protects the football as well as anyone.
He has the physical tools to play at a Trent Green level, and that is good enough to compere for a SB.

His problem is mental.

He has the physical ability to attack the sidelines and stretch the defense over the top, but he's afraid of making a mistake.

That results in check downs and sacks.

Can Reid get him over that fear and lack of confidence?

I'm skeptical, but it is not out of the question.

Andy Reid is going ask him to throw the ball over 25 times a game and that is something Alex Smith is not accustom too. I don't care who you are if your not adapt to that after 8 years I think it's going to back fire. That is my opinion. I think you are right in many ways but Alex Smith does not have a put it on my shoulders experience. I want to see him matriculate the ball with out having to rely on the run game. It's not something he is good at. I think the more he throws the ball the more we will see his flaws. He is good at times but it is about confidence. I think Andy Reid is good at building confidence but once he starts getting hit by being exposed extra in a game I think that confidence will go out the window.

__________________
Adopt a Chief: I adopt Eric Murray
Get after it son

Andy Reid is going ask him to throw the ball over 25 times a game and that is something Alex Smith is not accustom too. I don't care who you are if your not adapt to that after 8 years I think it's going to back fire. That is my opinion. I think you are right in many ways but Alex Smith does not have a put it on my shoulders experience. I want to see him matriculate the ball with out having to rely on the run game. It's not something he is good at. I think the more he throws the ball the more we will see his flaws. He is good at times but it is about confidence. I think Andy Reid is good at building confidence but once he starts getting hit by being exposed extra in a game I think that confidence will go out the window.

You guys read stats and then just run with it. Clay pointed this out some time back and now its some wall that cant be climbed.

How many times a game did Alex throw it at Oregon? 23.5 avg all said and done and over 25 a game his last season.

It all goes back to what offense you are running and how things are going.